Touched by Forever novel Chapter 1

Ann made her way into the school building, eager for its warmth, hardly noticing the beautiful aurora lights that painted Barrow Alaska’s sky that not so dark morning because of the Northern Lights. She saw her best friend Jessica leaning against her locker. People nicked named them ‘twinsies’ because they looked so similar. The biggest difference between them was that Jessica had dark brown eyes, almost black, with long brown hair that reached her hips, and Ann’s hair reached mid-back.

“Hello stranger,” Jessica embraced Ann. “Tell me everything! Did you hook up with that hot guy from the club?” she asked curiously.

“What guy?! I don’t remember anything,” Ann said worriedly, her hazel brown eyes looking more on the green side as the hallway light reflected on them.

“That guy!” Jessica exclaimed, shocked to see the guy from the club. He looked up at them, his mysterious gold-silver eyes catching Ann’s. A smile crept up his face, and he gave her a wink. Ann blushed and looked away.

“I don’t remember anything!” she told Jessica and took her coat off to hang it in her locker. The school building was a comfortable warm temperature despite the cold weather outside.

Ann and Jessica were top students and seated in front of the class. They liked to have fun and sneak out on weekends, but when it came to their classes, all fun and games got set aside. Both with aspirations to leave for warmer horizons, they knew they must get good marks to get into good Universities. Both girls were on the honor roll, Jessica being top of her grade with Ann coming in 2nd. Ann strived to knock Jessica off her pedestal and Jessica welcomed the healthy competition. What Ann did not know was that Jessica has a romantic flirtation with one of the teachers that were their Math and Science teacher and therefore always graded Jessica a tat better than what she deserved. Ann was more reserved than Jessica when it came to romantic relationships.

They noticed that their math and Science Teacher had turned into a young male instead of their usual teacher. He was yet to face the class as he was busy writing his name and surname on the whiteboard. “Good morning students, I am Mr. Dario Carden and I will be your Math and Science substitute teacher while Miss Erin Wangberg recovers,” Dario introduced himself after turning around to face the class. He caught a hint of blood smell in the air, and it led him to Ann.

Ann felt obligated to say something, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the sexy substitute teacher’s gaze on her. “What happened to Miss Wangberg?” Ann asked, trying her best not to shy away from the teacher’s eyes on her.

“An animal attacked her. It is all over the news,” Jessica informed her and smiled at the new teacher. She was a bit bumped that Miss Wangberg won’t be around for a bit fearing that Ann might kick her off her top spot, but when she saw the substitute teacher, she knew she had this year as the top student in the bag. Jessica deliberately changed her leg position and was satisfied that Mr. Carden’s eyes fell on her.

Dario masterfully ignored the hint of blood in the air that came from Ann as he has been a Vampire for over 2500 years. He was about to ask Jessica’s name, even though he already knew it when the classroom door opened.